Washington is where the rules are made on medals and promotion,
but they have not the power to award a salute from Task Force EIGHTEEN!
— Virgil Wing
The ships of Destroyer Squadron 21 and its predecessor “Cactus Striking Force”—listed in order of commissioning—are as follows:
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS NICHOLAS, DD 449 (flagship) — Built at
Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine and first commissioned 4 June 1942, the first ship of the
Fletcher class. Chosen by Admiral Halsey with
O’
Bannon and
Taylor to escort his flagship
Missouri into Tokyo Bay for the surrender of Japan. Surface engagements included
Kula Gulf and
Kolombangara. Shore bombardments included Solomon Islands, Philippines and Borneo. Sank submarines
I-11 and
I-37. In the air attack at Guadalcanal that sank
De Haven, sustained steering gear and shrapnel damage with two crewmembers killed. With
Radford, was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for rescuing survivors of the cruiser
Helena at Kula Gulf while engaging enemy destroyers. Earned 16 battle stars during World War II (later 5 for Korea and 9 for Vietnam for a total of 30—leading all American warships in the twentieth century). WWII crew’s nickname: the “Nick.” Radio call letters NCGA.
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS O’BANNON, DD 450 — Built alongside
Nicholas at Bath Iron Works and first commissioned 26 June 1942, the second ship of the class. During the Battle of Guadalcanal, became one of the few destroyers in history to survive a one-on-one duel with a battleship. Other surface engagements included Kula Gulf, Kolombangara, and Vella Lavella, where she rammed
Chevalier, damaging her bow, then rescued crewmembers. Returned to the States for repairs. With
Nicholas and
Taylor, escorted
Missouri into Tokyo Bay in August, 1945. Damaged submarine
RO-34 (finished off by
Strong) and helped sink
RO-115. No crewmembers were lost throughout the war. Awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her yearlong action in the Solomons and earned 17 battle stars, leading all destroyers in World War II (later 3 for Korea). WWII crew’s nickname: “Lucky ‘O’”; later “Potato Barge.” Radio call letters NUJC.
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS FLETCHER, DD 445 — Built at
Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, New Jersey and first commissioned 30 June 1942, the third ship of the class. Last in line and the only undamaged American ship at the
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Led van destroyers at the
Battle of Tassafaronga and afterward rescued survivors of cruiser
Northampton. With aircraft, sank submarine
RO-102. Hit by shore batteries while escorting minesweepers off Corregidor; 6 crewmembers killed. Returned to the West Coast for overhaul and was exercising there when the war ended. Earned 15 battle stars during World War II (later 5 for Korea). World War II crew’s nickname: “Lucky 13.” Radio call letters NEBG.
LOST IN ACTION
USS CHEVALIER, DD 451 — Built at Bath and commissioned 20 July 1942, the fourth ship of the class. Initially assigned to convoy duty in the Atlantic; then screened reinforcements for the “Operation Torch” landings in North Africa. Arrived in the Pacific in late January 1943, where she participated in many operations in the New Georgia campaign. Intentionally rammed
Strong off Munda to take off crewmembers before that ship sank. Was torpedoed by Japanese destroyer
Yugumo and then rammed by
O’Bannon during the Battle of Vella Lavella, losing 54 crewmembers.
O’Bannon rescued the remaining crewmembers; then
La Vallette intentionally sank her to prevent capture. World War II crew’s nicknames: “Chevy,” “Fighting French Cruiser.” Earned 3 battle stars before she was lost.
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS RADFORD, DD 446 — Built alongside
Fletcher at Kearny and first commissioned 22 July 1942, the fifth ship of the class. Initially assigned to antisubmarine patrols in the Atlantic, then fought her way through the Solomons campaign, including Kula Gulf and Kolombangara, without casualties. First ship in the navy to shoot down a plane at night without ever having seen it, using full radar control. Sank submarines
RO-101 and
I-19. In 1945, hit a mine while trying to take
La Vallette in tow after she was mined off Manila Bay, with 3 men killed. Returned to
Mare Island for repairs and was there when the war ended. With
Nicholas, was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for rescue of cruiser
Helena survivors at Kula Gulf while engaging the enemy. Earned 12 battle stars during World War II (later 5 for Korea, 5 for Vietnam). Radio call letters NCFX.
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS JENKINS, DD 447 — Built at Kearny and first commissioned 31 July 1942, the sixth ship of the class. Screened the bombardment force during the “Operation Torch” landings in North Africa, then ordered to the Pacific. Participated in the New Georgia campaign including the Battles of Kula Gulf and Kolombangara. With other ships, sank submarine
RO-115. In 1944, hit by a shore battery off Luzon but was repaired in three weeks. In 1945, hit a mine off Tarakan, Borneo with one man killed as her bow came to rest on the bottom. Returned to the west coast for repairs and was there when the war ended. Earned 14 battle stars during World War II (later 1 for Korea). World War II crew’s nickname: “Mighty J.” Radio call letters NEKY.
LOST IN ACTION
USS STRONG, DD 467 — Built alongside
Chevalier at Bath and commissioned 7 August 1942, the seventh ship of the class. Arrived in the Solomons in February 1943, sank submarine
RO-34 in April and participated in the New Georgia campaign. Torpedoed in Kula Gulf, 6 July, by a Japanese destroyer at a range of more than 12,000 yards, one of the longest torpedo shots of the war.
Chevalier intentionally rammed
Strong’s bow and took off 241 men in seven minutes before she broke in half and sank while
O’
Bannon answered fire from shore batteries. Forty-six crewmembers were killed. Earned 2 battle stars before she was lost.
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS La VALLETTE, DD 448 — Built alongside
Jenkins at Kearny and first commissioned 12 August 1942, the eighth ship of the class. Torpedoed in her first action of the war off Rennell Island, northwest of Guadalcanal, with 22 crewmembers killed during an air attack that also sank heavy cruiser
Chicago. Returned to Mare Island and was completely repaired and resumed operations in time for action at Vella Lavella, after which she scuttled the abandoned
Chevalier. Struck a mine while screening minesweeping operations off Manila Bay, with 7 crewmembers killed. Returned to the States and was there when the war ended. Earned 10 battle stars during World War II. World War II crew’s nickname: “LaVadilly” or “Dilly.” Radio call letters NIDL.
USS TAYLOR, DD 468 — Built at Bath and first commissioned 28 August 1942, the same day as USS
Saufley, the ninth and tenth ships of the class. Initially assigned to escort convoys in the Atlantic. Arrived in the Solomon Islands in January, 1943 and participated in many bombardments and engagements. Engaged at Kolombangara and took off crewmembers of
Selfridge after the Battle of Vella Lavella. Sank submarines
I-25, I-5 and a midget sub. Lost no crewmembers during the war and, with
Nicholas and
O’
Bannon, escorted
Missouri into Tokyo Bay. Awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for the Solomon Islands campaign. World War II crew’s nickname: “Terrible T.” Earned 15 battle stars during World War II (later 2 for Korea and 6 for Vietnam). Radio call letters NEXA.
LOST IN ACTION
USS De HAVEN, DD 469 — Built at Bath and commissioned 21 September 1942, the twelfth ship of the class. Sunk south of Savo Island by Japanese aircraft with the loss of 167 crewmembers, ending the shortest operational career of any destroyer in World War II, while returning with
Nicholas and landing craft from a landing on the west side of Guadalcanal. Earned one battle star.
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS HOPEWELL, DD 681 — Built at
Bethlehem, San Pedro, California and first commissioned 30 September 1943, the same day as USS
Hailey, Remey and
The Sullivans, the 112th–115th ships of the class. Arrived in the Solomons in March 1944 as a replacement ship. Supported landings in New Guinea, then served in the Philippines campaign. Hit four times at Corregidor by 6-inch shore batteries with a loss of 17 crewmembers. Was repaired initially at Manus and then at Mare Island, resuming operations in the central Pacific as the war ended. Earned 9 battle stars during World War II (later 4 for Korea). Radio call letters NJUI.
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS ROSS, DD 563 — Built at
Seattle-Tacoma, Washington and first commissioned 21 February 1944, the 154th ship of the class. Initially attached to
DesRon 56. Arrived off Saipan in June 1944, then participated in the invasion of the Philippines. In October 1944 at Leyte, after only five months in the war zone, struck two mines in quick succession losing 23 crewmembers killed but survived in an extraordinary demonstration of durability and damage control. Was towed to the Philippines for initial repairs, then to Mare Island. Repairs complete, she was back in the central Pacific when hostilities ended. Earned 5 battle stars during World War II. Radio call letters NWDZ.
DAMAGED IN ACTION
USS HOWORTH, DD 592 — Built at
Puget Sound Navy Yard and commissioned 3 April 1944, the 161st ship of the class. Joined DesRon 21 in August and operated in the New Guinea campaign at Hollandia, Wakde, Biak, Sansapor, and Morotai followed by Peleliu, Leyte and Ormoc Bay. Reassigned to
DesRon 45 in December and sustained slight damage from a suicide plane off Mindoro. Participated in invasions of Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, where a suicide plane crashed her gun director, killing seven. After repairs at Mare Island,
Howorth returned to the western Pacific via Alaska. She decommissioned 30 April 1946 at San Diego and was sunk offshore 8 March 1962 in torpedo tests. Earned seven battle stars during World War II. Crew’s nickname: “Mighty H.” Radio call letters NAZN.
